Festive crackdown after drink-driving spike

Great Southern police will crack down on drink-drivers during the Christmas holidays in a bid to put the brakes on an alarming 40 per cent rise in the practice this financial year.

There have been 175 drink-driving offences recorded across the district so far in 2020-21 — an increase of 55 offences on the same period last year.

In Narrogin, there have already been 23 offences recorded ahead of the festive period.

Great Southern police traffic co-ordinator Sgt Derek Grimes said police would target drink-driving during the festive period.

“There is about a 41 per cent rise in drink-driving offences this financial year and that includes the dismal result of a 0.315 reading in Albany last week,” Sgt Grimes said.

“I’m not happy with the increase in drink-driving across the district and this will be our focus over the festive period.”

Sgt Grimes urged motorists to take care and be patient on the roads during an especially busy summer.

“The Great Southern district has had 28 serious or fatal crashes this year,” he said.